With the numerous venues available for selling online, trying to figure out what to do can be overwhelming. Should you create an Etsy page? Is Facebook enough? How do you cultivate your own following and make sales?

One way to engage buyers and showcase your work is to get your own website.

No matter what social media you are using, having your own website is one of the best ways to sell your art. A website is your portfolio, showcasing your art in its best light.

Guideline for Artist Websites:

First things first - Buy a domain name like www.yourname.com or www.yournameartist.com and have it registered by a hosting service. A professional website and email address is key to running a successful business, whether you sell art, or anything else.

Your website should be about your art. Don’t chat about your dog, your trip to Yellowstone or your favorite restaurant.

Make it personal. Write about yourself and your art. What do you want your art to communicate? Make visitors feel some connection to you as an artist.

Your gallery should showcase current work that is available for sale. Do not show everything you’ve ever made. Keep your gallery organized and easy for visitors to understand and navigate. If showing older works or sold works, kept them in separate galleries.

Keep your website updated regularly so it is fresh and interesting.

Use quality images of your art.

Make sure each artwork has a price and provide clear instructions on how people can buy your art.

These guidelines can be adapted to other businesses as well. The main idea is to focus your website on your business and engage visitors. Connect your website to your social media channels and be sure to post regularly.

Do you have a website for your business? What advice do you have? Share your questions or comments. We’d love to hear from you.